Foundation:

Despite the importance of the first event of atrial fibrillation as one of the most treated medical emergencies, in Cienfuegos, there are insufficient studies describing the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of these patients.

Objective:

To clinically and epidemiologically characterize patients with the first event of atrial fibrillation in Cienfuegos between the years 2020-2022.

Method:

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out. The universe was made up of 54 patients diagnosed with a first event of atrial fibrillation admitted to the Cardiology Service of the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima General University Hospital in Cienfuegos between the years 2020-2022. The variables studied were: age, sex, skin color, toxic habits, personal pathological history, clinical manifestations, echocardiographic parameters and treatment. The absolute and relative frequencies of the variables were calculated. The results were presented in tables.

Results:

The male sex, the age group of 36-55 years, white skin color, and smoking predominated. The most common personal pathological history was: high blood pressure (74.1%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (16.7%) and valvular heart disease (11.1%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were: palpitations (77.8%), followed by dyspnea (12.9%). Echocardiographic parameters were within the normal range. Pharmacological treatment was applied to 68.5% followed by pharmacological and electrical cardioversion in 16.7%.

Conclusions:

The largest number of patients with a first event of atrial fibrillation have a structurally healthy heart, so the prevention of recurrences is considered of vital importance, this will avoid the creation of electrical and anatomical conditions that perpetuate the arrhythmia.

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